Siddle, Bird in bowl-off for Test spot

Sheffield Shield opponents Peter Siddle and Jackson Bird can bowl themselves into the third seamer’s spot in Australia’s Test team over the next four days at the MCG, according to national coach Darren Lehmann.

With Mitchell Starc back in action following a rest and then injury lay-off, and Josh Hazlewood partnering him for the Blues in their Shield clash with Queensland in Brisbane, only one spot in Australia's pace-bowling armoury appears available ahead of the first Test against South Africa, beginning next Thursday November 3 in Perth.

Which means the Shield match between Victoria and Tasmania – which began today (Tuesday) in Melbourne – will see Siddle and Bird going head-to-head for that place.

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Lehmann confirmed that spots remained "up for grabs" in the Test side, and said a strong performance from either paceman could be enough to tip the ledger in their favour.

"They certainly can over the next few days I would think," he said when asked if they could bowl themselves into the starting XI.

"(Siddle) looked really good in the Matador Cup and by all reports he's got some zing and zip back.

"He's playing the Shield game so hopefully he'll perform well and pull up well, and then we'll see what we do.

"His record is exceptional – he bowls good line and length and can complement Mitchell, but so can Jackson Bird."

Bird took a five-wicket haul in his last Test – against New Zealand in February – and while he didn't appear in Sri Lanka, his non-selection came down to conditions, with selectors opting for two spinners in the three matches on the subcontinent.

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That makes the Tasmanian the incumbent third seamer, and his performance for Australia A in his last first-class fixture, in which he took 3-53 in the first innings against India A in Brisbane last month, would likely have impressed on-duty selector Trevor Hohns.

In that match, Bird bowled with the sort of control that has made him such an attractive proposition as a Test bowler, playing the lead hand as Australia A reduced India A to 5-43 at lunch on day one.

"I had to work into my rhythm a little bit, but I got my line and length right quite early in my first spell, which was nice," Bird said at the time.

"We controlled the scoreboard pretty well. We were consistently challenging their defence and we were bowling maidens as well, and that's what we spoke about in our team meeting."

Siddle cast doubts on his own inclusion in the opening Test recently when he suggested his match fitness might not quite be there for the series opener against the Proteas, however his impressive showings in the Matador Cup now mean he'll be watched closely through the Vics' Shield match.

"We have to what happens over the next few days … it's probably the hardest thing to answer until you know whether they're fit or not," Lehmann said of Siddle's potential inclusion.

"It's an important round for everyone involved to push their case forward before we meet and select (the team)."